SHOW REVIEW: Charli XCX Takes Over NYC’s Terminal 5 In A Sold Out Show
SHOW REVIEW: Charli XCX Takes Over NYC’s Terminal 5 In A Sold Out Show
Supported by Allie X – Charli XCX created an iconic end to her North American tour
Images and Words by: Jacquelyn Kozak
I’ve never been to a party better than the one Charli XCX threw at Terminal 5 on October 22 – after adding an extra date due to high demand – Charli XCX brought a bitter sweet end to her North American tour with one final sold out show in the city of dreams – New York City.
While the opener for both nights differed, Allie X warmed up an impatient crowd with an unforgettable set. While a new-comer to her music, I’m instantly a fan. From the very first note, I was hooked – imagine if Lady Gaga and Billie Eilish had a dark-pop lovechild, it would grow up to be just like Allie X. I had the alluring “Casanova” stuck in my head for the rest of the evening.
With fans more than satisfied by the performance of Allie X – they anxiously awaited what Charli XCX had in store for them. Draped in glitter, fans began to notice the classical music taking over the airwaves. A soft violin becoming more prominent – fans’ ears perked up as the violin soon turned into a rendition of Charli XCX‘s most beloved – yet unreleased – track, “Taxi” – fans’ cheers were deafening.
When the song ended, the lights went black except for two gigantic cubes that lit up the stage in a magnificent white light. Charli came out in a haze of bright, overexposed, white confetti that littered the room for the rest of the night – stagehands had to sweep the stage in between songs multiple times and I even found some stuck in my pants later on. Without hesitation, she launched directly into “Next Level Charli”, and things never slowed down from there.
She was later joined onstage for an amped up version of, “Vroom Vroom”, by a gaggle of friends and local drag queens in one of the best dance lines I’ve ever seen. The energy stayed at the highest possible level for throughout, with one notable exception – about halfway through her set, she toned it down to perform her song “Official“. For this track, she took a quick break from bouncing around to deliver some powerhouse vocals. What was more inspiring than her vocals, however, was everyone else’s – the entire room sang along with her in perfect pitch, nearly louder than Charli herself. It was truly a wonderful moment to be a part of.
As the intensity of the Fan-Charli duet faded, Charli wasted no time to show us why she’s known as being the life of the party. In case anyone forgot what show they had walked into, she made sure to remind them, announcing, “This is the part of the night when I get fucked up and have fun!” From there, Charli XCX closed the main set with “2099” and left the stage to fan chants of “Charli! Charli! Charli!” After a few moments, she stepped back on stage for one of the strongest encores I’ve personally ever witnessed: “Unlock It” into “I Love It” – I don’t know a soul alive that doesn’t go insane for this song at a party – into my personal favorite, “Boys”, before ultimately closing with “1999”.
Charli put it best herself when, just before the encore, she said, “Thank you for having excellent taste in pop music, aka me!” I would personally bet all of my savings that everyone in the room that night had the time of their lives. It was a high-energy, dance-heavy, incredibly welcoming, safe space where everyone was entirely at ease to be themselves. Charli XCX is a true champion of the LGBTQ+ community, and damn does she throw a great party.
